Our Denomination

The Christian and Missionary Alliance

Stow Alliance Fellowship is a part of The Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA), an evangelical denomination with a major emphasis on world evangelization. It maintains a “big tent” stance in reference to many doctrinal matters, encouraging believers of diverse backgrounds and theological traditions to unite in an alliance to know and exalt Jesus Christ and to complete His Great Commission.

The cross, pitcher, laver and crown are the four symbols that join to illustrate the central theme in The Christian and Missionary Alliance, that is: Jesus Christ is our Savior, Sanctifier, Healer and Coming King. The globe represents our mission in the world.

The CROSS: Christ Our Savior

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to man by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

We believe Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures…that we are redeemed through His precious blood, justified by His death and Resurrection, made righteous through His righteousness, and accepted in His name.

The LAVER: Christ Our Sanctifier

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:3).

Holiness is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself–so dwelling in our hearts and so walking in our steps that we shall live like Him. This can never be in a sense that will minister to our own pride or self-sufficiency, for before we can receive it, we must come to the end of ourselves and never become self-sufficient apart from Christ. Such holiness means living a life of simple dependence, moment by moment, on Christ alone.

Note: The laver symbol represents a vessel used in the temple of the Old Testament. The priest used it to wash his feet before entering the Holy Place. It signifies the daily cleansing from sin by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The PITCHER: Christ Our Healer

“And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up” (James 5:15).

The Lord Jesus has purchased and provided for His believing and obedient children physical strength, life, and healing as freely as the spiritual blessings of the gospel. He took up our infirmities as well as our sins, and from His risen life and living touch, our faith may draw health and strength until our life work is done.

Note: This symbol represents a pitcher containing oil to anoint the sick for healing that comes through obedience to God’s Word.

The CROWN: Christ Our Coming King

“You will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven” (Mark 14:62).

The Lord Jesus is coming personally to this earth again. It is not a mere spiritual coming, either at death or in a deeper experience of the Holy Spirit, or in the spread of the gospel throughout the world; but it is the coming of the Lord Himself as literally and personally as when He went away.

The GLOBE: Completing Christ’s Commission

“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).

The globe adds a new dimension to the long-familiar official logo of the C&MA. The four Christ-centered symbols speak of God’s gift of love to all peoples of every generation. They represent what Christ gives of Himself to His people so that He may present them to the Father without fault and with great joy. Now we give because He gave.

The globe represents our mission in the world. “Freely you have received, freely give,” the Lord urged His followers as He sent them to spread the Good News throughout the land. That appeal from His heart to ours will continue until the gospel, through the efforts of His Church, has reached all peoples, and He comes again.